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Airfield management beefs up BASH program

  • Published
  • By Airman Basic Anthony Jennings
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
The 36th Operations Support Squadron Airfield Management's Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program recently activated Andersen's Bird Strike Deterrence System Aug. 17.

The system of 30 non-lethal, sound-producing cannons is designed to scare birds away from Andersen's runways in an effort to minimize loss of Air Force resources and personnel from hazardous wildlife populations on Andersen's runway.

"The sound from these cannons is very loud and could be mistaken for gunfire," Capt. Anthony Hayes, 36 OSS Airfield Operations Flight commander. "Please do not be alarmed, you will be able to tell it is cannon fire by the equally spaced firing that will last for three minutes each time the system is activated."

Airfield Management is responsible for the overall management of the airfield to provide a safe, efficient and effective airfield environment for aircraft operations. They must identify, correct, or mitigate airfield hazards and other deficiencies that could create a potentially hazardous condition for aircraft operations.

"We are the ones who are directly responsible to make sure the condition of the airfield is in compliance so aircraft may land, taxi and take off safely," said Tech. Sgt. Tanneka Chew, 36 OSS Airfield Management Operations.

Birds and other wildlife on runways, taxiways, or infields can create a potential safety hazard and need to be dispersed before flying operations can safely continue. Birds move quickly and unpredictably so even when left in a "safe" portion of the airfield, they can move and create an immediate hazard.

The cannons automatically produce harmless thunderclap bangs to disperse bird and wildlife pests. Multiple shots during a short period of time have proven to be extremely effective.

"By firing the cannons in varying, sequenced shots, we can effectively move birds off the airfield," said Master Sgt. Anthony Matthews, 36 OSS Deputy Airfield Manager. "The ability to change the frequency of each shot means the wildlife won't become accustomed to routine and render the devices ineffective."

"This is the preferred method to disperse wildlife, rather than depredation," he continued. "We want to protect our resources and personnel, but we aim to do so with the interests of the local environment and ecosystem in mind."

The remotely controlled cannons are strategically placed on the airfield with the master controller located in Base Operations and secondary controller located in the Air Traffic Control Tower. A computer screen displays a customized airfield diagram with color-coded coordinates of each cannon. Any combination of cannons can be remotely activated without restriction.

Though the gas-powered cannons could be mistaken as gunfire, they are intended to preserve war-fighting capabilities through the reduction of wildlife hazards to aircraft operations. Measures are in place to prevent the noise from being misconstrued.

"Before each activation, security forces will be notified to eliminate the possibility of the Bird Strike Deterrence Cannons of being mistaken for gun fire," Captain Hayes said. "This will ensure a timely response to actual gunfire should an incident occur."